Venetian blind



Oct. 9, 1951 s, sP 2,570,608

VENEI'IAN BLIND I Filed July 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR. Sin, r1129 Spiegel 0d. 9, 1951 s, sPlEGEL 2,570,608

VENETIAN BLIND Filed July 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Got. 9, 1951 VENETIAN BLIND Stanley Spiegel, New York, N. Y., assignor of onehalf to Electronic Systems Corporation, a corporation of New York Application July 14, 1947, Serial No. 760,797

, l The present invention relates to novel and improved types of Venetian blinds. v

The present type of Venetian blind consists of slats horizontally positioned by means of horizontal ladders suspended between two vertical tapes. These tapes are usually located approximately one-third in from each end of. the Venetian blind. Due to the position of these tapes, the dirt that collects upon them soon causes them to become very unsightly, and necessitates their periodic replacement. The location of the tapes further obstructs vision, and diminishes the amount of incoming light when the Venetian blind is in an open position. Again, due to the positioning of the tapes, the dust that accumulates upon the slats is difiicult to remove, due to the multiplicity of operation required in using the cleaning instrument, since the cleaning instrument must be removed and reinserted at each tape interval. The disadvantages of the conventional Venetian blind are the unsightly dirty tapes, the difiiculty in cleaning the slats, the obstructed vision, and the diminished amount of incoming light.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to do away with the presence of tapes in front of the blind facing the viewer. Another object of the present invention is to practically conceal the tapes from view. Still another object of the present invention is to permit a relatively unobstructed view when the Venetian blind is open, and at the same time admitting more light. Still another object of the present invention is to permit an uninterrupted sweep across the entire.

length of the slat by the cleaning instrument, since there are no intervening tapes. One of the reasons for the advantages of the present invention is that the supporting, raising, elevating, tilting elements are at the ends, and not in front of the slats as isusual.

A further object of the present invention is provision for a type of slat that permits greater length without the need for additional supporting means that would be required in the present conventional Venetian blind.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of slat-tilting means which are attached to the ends of the tilting rail and to the bottom rail, and wherein the slats are contiguous to the vertical tape either at the ends or adjacent to the ends.

3 Claims. (Cl. 160-178) Further objects will appear in the following more detailed specifications, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a Venetian blind in extended position with the middle portion broken away of a blind made according to and embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved type of slat, the flexible members comprised of two vertical tapes and flexible rungs, and the raising and lowering cord.

Figure 3 shows a partial View of an improved form of slat.

An overall view of one form of an improved type of Venetian blind is illustrated in Figure 1. The head rail 8, the bottom rail 9, the slats I0, the tilting rail I I, the tilting cord I2, the tape I3, the raising and lowering cord I'd, serve approximately the same purpose as in a conventional Venetian blind.

A detailed structural view of an improved type of slat Illa, the flexible members comprised of two vertical tapes [3a and I31) and flexible rungs I5, the raising and lowering cord Ma, is shown in Figure 2. The slat Illa, which will be later described in more detail in connection withFigure 3 is supported by the rungs I5. These rungs I5, in addition to supporting and spacing the various slats, also assist in imparting the tilting motion to the slats when the tilting rail I I of Figure 1 is actuated and also hold the slats against longitudinal slipping.

In Figure 3 there is shown a partial view of the end of a slat I 0b, which is to be used in conjunction with the improved form of the Venetian blind shown in Figure 1. As can be seen from Figure 3 the slat Illb has two oppositely disposed slots l6 and I1. These slots I6 and I! are located as close to the ends of the slat [0b as is structurally feasible. These slots I6 and IT serve to position and guide the flexible members, as is shown in Figure 2. The aperture I8 functions to position and guide the raising and lowering cord I4. The aperture I8 is shown as having an opening I9 to the end of the slat Iflb, in order to facilitate the insertion of the raising and lowering cord I4 in the process of manufacturing assembly as well as facilitating replacement if this becomes necessary. The combined aperture I8 and opening I9 form a modified T. It lies within the scope of the present invention, however, to eliminate this opening I9. should that be desirable.

It should be noted in this type of fastening that the flexible tapes I3 are not rigidly fastened to the tilting rail II, but are secured in such a manner that the flexible tapes I3 are allowed I to pivot as the tilting rail II rotates about its horizontal axis. For example, when the tilting rail II is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, the flexible tapes I3 Will remain in a verf-i tical position, and there will be no tendency for the tapes to wrinkle. Now, if the flexible tapes i3 were rigidly fastened to the tilting rail H, then, as the tilting rail H was rotated about the horizontal axis, the angle between the tilting rail and the flexible tapes I3 would always remain the same. This would cause distortion in the entire Venetian'blind, in aiddition'tozmaking the entire assembly unworkable. One -of the principles which make the operation of the improved Venetian blind feasible is that the flexible tapes [3 are secured to the tilting rail in such a manner that the angle made by theintersection of the tapes l3 and :the tiltingrail it! changes as the tilting rail H rotates-about its T horizontal axis. In the case shown in Figure 1, this is accomplished by the pivoting .pinP, which allows the flexible members to rotate freely. The principle described above applies also to the bottom rail. In the present improved form of Venetian blind, it will be seenthat-the flexible tapes [3 are fastened to the tiltingzra-il l'l intsuch-amanher as to allow them to pivot ireelyzas thetilting-rail H rotates aboutits horizontal axis. As the tilting raill l rotates, it; alternatelyraises one of the flexible tapes andlowers the other flexible tape. This imparts a tilting motion to the slats I!) which are securely resting on the flexibletapes (3 by. means :of i the :rung t5.

From'the foregoing description,*taken in connection "with the drawingsit :is evident that the usual exposed tapes now in use :are made iprazctically invisible, and theta new type of flexible support is provided, which permits full vision between the slats when the blind is in an extended open position, admits -more light when the blind is in-said position, and ,further allows an uninterruptedsweep of the'cleaning instrument when cleaning the slats. It also provides anew 'tiltingmeans, and methods of performing same.

What is claimed is:

l. -A Venetian blind, including in combination a head rail, a bottom rail, a second rail tiltingly attached to and supported by the headrail, twopairs of narrow flexible tapes, the upper ends of each pair of which are attached tothe respective ends of the tilting-rail with the flatportions of thetapes aligned but spaced apart,-a bottom rail the ends of whichare connected to the lower ends of the respective pairs of tapes, whereby the tilting rail supports the bottomarail, a plurality of fiexible'rungs carried by each pair of 'tapes,

--cord having its ends anchored to the respective ends of the bottom rail and reeved through the head "rail.

.2. A .Venetian'blind, including in combination a'head rail, abottoin rail, 2, second rail tiltingl-y supported-by the head rail, two pairs of flexible tapes having their upper ends connected to the tilting rail so that the fiat portions of the bodies thereof are in line and spaced apart, a bottom rail supported from said tapes,- a'plurality of pairs of flexible strands, bridging andconnected to said pairsof'tapes, aplurality of slats, each of which is provided-at-eae'h end-withtwo aligned recesses opening through the edges-"of the slat and forming receptaclesior the respec-' tive tapes, the ends of theslats being-embraced by thetwo strands forming each rung to hold the slat at each end against displacement, and a raising and'lcwering cord having two'freeends connected to the bottom rail and the body portion reeved through the head rail, whereby the blind can becontracted or extended.

'3. A Venetian blind as claimed in claim 2,

wherein a modified 'T-shaped opening is provided in each extreme outer edge at the end of each slat and into whichthe raising andlower ingcord r is held and guided.

STANLEY .SPIEGEL.

REFERENCFS "CITED T The following references are .of rzecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES vPATENTS Number Name 113 ate 279,835 .Smith June 19, 115883 69 1,6073 Coveney Jan..2 1, i902 1117 9 ,328 Lancaster Apr. .11 :19 1.6 2,276,177 .Flugger :M'ar. 1 0, 119.42 2,391,709 Kasan LDec. .1945 2,440,769 I-Iackett May "4, .1943 

